Confused and apprehensive about a spike in costs of daily-use items, Delhiites have given a mixed reaction to the latest order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which on Thursday imposed an interim ban on the use, sale and storage of non-biodegradable plastic bags less than 50 microns.
The Tribunal has also directed the city government to seize the entire stock of plastic within a week and announced an environment compensation of ₹5,000 on anyone found to be in possession of the bags.
‘Huge inconvenience’
Farah Azhar, a housewife and resident of New Friends Colony, said: “I am assuming there’s a total ban on plastic bags as the specific limitation is not found in the market. Though I understand that through this order we are being more responsible towards our environment, the inconvenience caused is also huge.”
“I went to buy fresh food from the market, but because the vendors had no other alternative to plastic I had to pick up essentials in the form of packed food. Now, every time I will have to remember to carry a jute bag,” she added.
Anam Jamal, a resident of Nizamuddin West, said: “I feel that the order will be very difficult to implement. People have to be educated about the harmful, adverse and long-term effects of plastic bags. Also, shopkeepers should provide an economical alternative. Everyone can’t buy a ₹10 jute or cloth bag.”
Meanwhile, those in the plastic manufacturing business said that around 25% of plastic bags would be removed from Delhi following the implementation of the latest direction by the NGT.
“We already use plastic that is below 50 microns, but we will have to see how this latest order works,” said Bhrama, who runs a road-side eatery at ITO.
He added that he wasn’t sure how the order will be implemented, “We can’t do without plastic covers. A lot of people buy and pack their food that can’t be done in newspapers or cloth bags... so I am not sure how we will work this one out.”
Senior officials from the Delhi government have said that they are awaiting the exact details of the order.
‘Welcome move’
Meanwhile, environmentalists have maintained that this is a welcome step and that the government needs to educate and create awareness about use of jute and cotton bags for daily use.
Swati Sambyal, programme manager (waste management expert) at the Centre for Science and Environment, said: “This is a welcome move, however, we have to ensure strict implementation. There have been several such bans in Delhi but nothing much has come out of them. There has to be increased surveillance. We should also look at stopping production of such plastic.”
“Plastic is a utility item, so alternatives have to be subsidised for mass use,” she added.
